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According to a story by Sports Illustrated's
Stephanie Apstein, Taubman repeatedly yelled at the female
reporters regarding Houston closer Roberto Osuna, whom the
Astros acquired last season while he was serving a 75-game
suspension for allegedly assaulting a woman.
Apstein detailed the allegations after covering Game 6 of the AL
Championship Series and heading to the raucous Houston locker
room afterward. Minutes earlier, Osuna had given up a two-run
homer in the ninth inning to blow a lead before the Astros beat
the New York Yankees 6-4 on a two-run homer by Jose Altuve.
According to Apstein, Taubman turned to three females, one of
whom was wearing a purple bracelet for domestic violence
awareness, and shouted: "Thank God we got Osuna! I'm so
(expletive) glad we got Osuna!"
Apstein wrote that "the outburst was frightening and offensive
enough that another Houston staffer apologized."
The Astros quickly responded after the story was published
Monday night, describing it as "misleading and completely
irresponsible." But at least one male reporter who was in the
clubhouse at the time said the report was accurate.
"The Astros called this (Sports Illustrated) report misleading,"
tweeted Hunter Atkins, a reporter with the Houston Chronicle.
"It is not. I was there. Saw it. And I should've said something
sooner."
The Astros did not make Taubman available for an interview for
the Sports Illustrated story. The team responded after the story
was published.
"An Astros player was being asked questions about a difficult
outing," the team said in a statement. "Our executive was
supporting the player during a difficult time. His comments had
everything to do about the game situation that just occurred and
nothing else -- they were also not directed toward any specific
reporters. We are extremely disappointed in Sports Illustrated's
attempt to fabricate a story where one does not exist."
At least one other journalist backed Sports Illustrated's
account.
"Can confirm," tweeted Hannah Keyser of Yahoo Sports.
The Houston Chronicle cited eyewitnesses who described Taubman
as holding a cigar and standing with two or three other men when
he screamed toward the group of women. No interviews were taking
place at the time and no players were in the vicinity, the
Chronicle reported, with about 8 feet separating the Astros
official from the startled reporters.
The Astros are set to host the Washington Nationals on Tuesday
night in Game 1 of the World Series.
--Field Level Media
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